Roller conveyer



l.. E. sEKULsKi ROLLER CONVEYER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 26, 1938 Oct. l, 1940- L. E. sx-:KULsKl ROLLER coNvEYER Filed May 26, 1938 2 lSheets-.Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES ROLLER CONVEYER Lee E. Sekulski, Ellwood City, Pa., assignor to Mathews Conveyer Company, Ellwood City, Pa.,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 26, 1938, Serial No. 210,259

7 Claims.

This invention relates to conveyers and is directed more particularly to roller conveyers wherein the roller mountings are movably supported with respect to the main conveyer frame.

The present invention constitutes in effect, a

modification of the resilient roller support principle described and claimed in Hubert M. Rishel Patents Nos. 2,077,188, 2,077,189, and 2,077,190, granted April 13, 1937.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a particularly simple and inexpensive form of resilient mounting for conveyer rollers wherein the rollers are movable with respect to the conveyer frame against the tension of suitable resilient elements such as coil springs.

Another object is to provide a resilient mounting for the rollers wherein the resilientA elements may be pretensioned to any desired degree, dependent upon the Weight and character of the load to be transported, the size of the rollers and bearings therefor, the degree of resilience desired in the roller mountings, and the particular installation or use for which the conveyer is intended.

A further object is to provide a resiliently mounted roller conveyer wherein resilient tension elements and levers coact to control the movement of the resilient mountings of the rollers with respect to the main conveyer frame.

A still further object is to provide a resiliently mounted conveyer of the aforesaid character which shall eiectively absorb the shock of impact due to loading or conveying irregular shaped objects over the conveyer, which shall provide a relatively smooth ride for the articles moving,r

thereover, and which shall be compact and occupy a relatively small overall heighth.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention may be stated to consist in the various novel features of construction and arrangement or combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, with parts broken away, of a resiliently mounted roller conveyer constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a modified form of construction;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3; 55 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 butillus- (Cl. 193-35) y trating a further modied form of construction wherein the resilient elements and levers therefor are arranged on the outside of the main conveyer frame; and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the reference numerals I0 and II denote theusual main side frames of a conventional conveyer. These frames are illustrated as being formed of standif ard channel members which are tied together at suitable intervals by transversely disposed angle irons I2 that are Welded 0r otherwise secured to the side frames. It will be understood that the side frames I0 and'I I and also the transverse angle irons I2 may be of any suitable cross-sectional shape as the main frame is of conventional design.

Also extending transversely of the side frames I0 and II are a plurality of rods I3 which are 20 arranged in spaced longitudinal relationship. As shown in Figure 2, these rods extend through suitable transversely aligned apertures in the side frames, and a cotter pin through each end of each rod serves to keep the rod in position. This 25 arrangement provides a simple and inexpensive form of construction which facilitates assembly of the parts and makes replacement'a simple matter. Mounted on each rod in transversely spaced relation are a pair of arms I4. These arms may be 36 journalled on the rod or xedly secured thereto as desired, so long as they are free to rotate about the axis of the rod as a pivot. As clearly shown in Figure 1, each arm is preferably angular in side elevation for a purpose to be described hereing5 after.

Between the upper ends of the arms, a conventional conveyer roller indicated at I5 is mounted, while the lower ends of the arms are tied together by suitable cross braces such as the angle irons I6. A pair of tension elements, here illustrated as coil` springs I'I, each have one end anchored to an adjustable eye bolt I8y carried by the cross brace I5 of one roller unit mounting, and the opposite end connected to angle clip I9 that is Welded or otherwise secured to the conveyer side rail. By referring to Figure 1, it will be obvious that eye bolts IB may be adjusted vertically by the nuts Iiia so as to place an initial tension on the springs I'I and by reason of this initial tension of elements I 1, each pair of arms I4 and roller I5 carried thereby, tend to rotate about the rod I3 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in this iigure. In order to limit this rotational movement for each roller unit, there 'is preferably provided a 55 'Aid suitable stop. This stop may be conveniently formed by a rod 20 extending between the side frames I and I I or by welding short stop pins to the walls of the side frames.

It will be noted that the arms I4 of each roller unit being pivoted about axis I3 and carrying the roller adjacent the upper ends of the arms, and being connected to the tension elements adjacent the lower ends thereof, form in effect a lever. The mechanical advantage of this lever action may be varied by varying the ratio of the distance from axis I3 to the axis of the roller with respect to the distance from axis I 3 to eye bolts I 8.v

Preferably, the eye bolts I 8 are adjusted to place the coil springs II under an initial tension irrespective of the weight of the roller and associated parts and the amount of this tension will, in most instances, depend upon the contour and nature of the load to be transported over the rollers, the, size of the load and other similar factors.

If desired, instead of two springs II for each roller unit, a single spring could be used, in which case, it would be preferably positioned midway between the arms I4. In other instances three or more springs could be used by engaging the desired number of springs between suitable eye bolts on the braces IB and a suitable transverse member extending between the angle clips I9.

In operation, a load passing from left to right as viewed in Figurel l and as indicated by the arrow, will depress the, rollers engaged thereby against the tension of springs I? so as to conform to the shape of the load and more evenly distribute the'weight on the rollers than in the case of the conventional rigid roller conveyer. This prevents overloading one or more rollers and their bearings and also by reason of the resilient mounting for the rollers a smoother ride for the load thereover is obtained. Also, the resilient mounting absorbs the shock of impact when the load is dropped onto the conveyer, thereby prolonging the life of the rollers and bearings to a material degree. These, and numerous other advantages as set forth in the aforementioned Ri-shel patents are obtained by this relatively simple and inexpensive form of construction.

In Figures 3 and 4, I have illustrated a modified form of construction wherein straight lever arms I4a are used for supporting the rollers instead of fthe angle lever armsI4 described above. Also, in these views, I have shown the upper ends of springs I Ia connected directly to the lower ends of arms I4, and the lower or non-movable ends of the spring elements IIa connected to eyes 25 that are secured to the side rails I0 and II. Instead of xed stops 20, I have illustrated adjustable stops for the lever arms I 4a. These may be of any suitable type, such as angle clips 26 projecting from the inner faces of the conveyer side frames and provided with adjusting screws 2'I and lock nuts 28, although it will be understood that xed stops may be used if desired. The springs I'IEL are pretensioned by adjusting the bolts or screws 21 after the springs have been connected in place, although it will be understood that, if desired, the parts may be so proportioned as to place the springs under an initial tension when they are connected in position. In this latter case, fixed stops for the arms could be used, or adjustable stops where it was desired to further adjust the tension after assembly.

In Figures and 6, I have illustrated a further modified form of construction wherein a part of the lever arm and the resilient elements and stops therefor are arranged on the outer sides of the conveyer frame. In these views, I have illustrated the conveyer side rails IUb and IIb as being of angle section although any other suitable type of side rail might be used equally well. The rods I3b extend beyond the side rails to a slightly greater distance to receive thereon arms 30 which are rigidly connected to the rod in any approved manner, as by set screws 3 I. The lower end of each arm has one end'of a tension element I'Ib connected thereto, while the opposite end of said element is connected to an angle clip 32 welded or otherwise secured to the conveyer frame. Stops 33 also in the form of angle clips are welded tothe outer face of each side frame in `the proper position to limit movement of the If desired, adjustable stops might be used instead of xed stops. Each roller I5 is carried by transversely spaced arms 34 that are rigidly secured to a rod I 3b. Preferably the parts are so arranged that the tension elements I'Ib are placed under apredetermined initial tension when they are connected in position. The operation of this form of my invention is similar to that described above.

From the foregoing description, and drawings illustrating several modifications Yof my invention, it will be noted that I have provided a relatively simple and inexpensive form of resilient conveyer which may be easily and quickly assembled. In the present form of resilient conveyer, the displacement of the rollers by the load vis against the tension of the resilient elements, and such displacementis effected by reason of a lever action due to the pivotal connection of the roller supporting arms and the axis of the roller located at one side of the pivotal point and the spring connection on the opposite side of said point. It is obvious that the length of these lever arms may be varied lwith respect to each other, and the size of the springs may be selected to impart practically anydesired degree of resilience to the roller units. For example, the distance from the pivotal point of the arms to the axis of the roller may be less than the distance from such pivotal point to Athe spring connection. If relatively heavy springs are. used with this lever arrangement, a relatively stii construction is provided, that is, the rollers are'not easily displaced by the load. This form of construction might be particularly suited for Very heavy loads as the rollers engaged by the load would not be displaced to such an extent that they would be materially below the horizontal line of the tops of the rollers, yet individual rollers would be vdisplaced by reason of the irregular shape of the load engaging one or more of the rollers, and hencevoverloading of an:7 of the rollers is thus avoided.

On the other hand, the length of the roller arm may be equal to or greater than the length of the spring arm and if relatively light springs are used, it is obvious that the rollers vwill be easily displaced by the load, thereby providing a soft construction..` This form of .construction might be particularly suited for relatively light loads or loads which engage a large number of rollers simultaneously and hence where each roller supports only a small part of the total load.

It is obvious that various arrangements of the lever principle and types of springs other than the two illustrative examples described above may be used depending upon the result desired.

A still further variable factor is obtained by reason of the angular arrangement of the roller arm with respect to the spring arm. In the forms of my invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 the roller arms are at obtuse and acute angles respectively to the spring arms. In Figures 3 and 4, the arms dene a simple straight lever. It is obvious that a load at rest on the rollers exerts a force directly downwardly, while a moving load on the rollers exerts not only a downwardly directed force but also a forwardly directed force by reason of the load first engaging a roller and then moving thereover. By arranging the pivotal point of the lever arms in advance of, directly beneath, or to the rear of the axis of the roller these forces may be reacted to any desired degree depending upon the ratio of the lever arms, the resilience of the springs, the angularity of the arms, and the load the roller` is subjected to. It is thus obvious that the above described construction may be easily modified to suit the particular requirements of the installation and use of the conveyer.

What I claim is:

1. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, lever arms pivotally connected to the frame, rollers carried by said arms and movable therewith and in substantially vertical planes with respect to said conveyer frame, and tension means connected between said frame and arms, said tension means being under an initial tension in addition to the weight of the roller and arms whereby said roller and arms will normally be urged in a direction to resist the weight of a load passing over said rollers.

2. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, lever arms pivotally connected to the frame, rollers carried by said arms and movable therewith and with respect to said conveyer frame, tension means connected between said frame and arms, an adjustable stop engaging each arm to limit the pivotal movement of said arms due to the force exerted thereon by said tension element, said tensionmeans being under an initial tension in addition to the weight of the roller and arms whereby said roller and arms will normally be urged in a direction to resist the weight of a load passing over said rollers.

3. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, angular shaped lever arms pivotally connected intermediate their ends to each side rail of said frame, the lever arms on one side rail being in transverse alignment with the lever arms on the other side rail, a roller carried by the upper end portions of each pair of transversely aligned lever arms, a tension element connected to the lower end portions of each lever arm and the conveyer frame, and means limiting the pivotal movement of each arm due to the force exerted thereon by its tension element, said tension element being under an initial tension in addition to the weight of the roller and arms whereby said roller and arms will normally be urged in a direction to resist the weight of a load passing over said rollers.

4. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, lever arms pivotally connected to the frame intermediate their ends in transverse aligned pairs, a roller carried by the upper end portions of each pair of lever arms, resilient tension elements connected to the lower end portions of the-lever arms and to the conveyer frame, the roller arm portion of each lever arm being angularly disposed with respect to the spring arm portion of said lever arm, said tension elements being under an initial tension in addition to the weight of the roller and arms whereby said roller and arms will be urged about said pivot in a direction to resist the weight of a load passing over said rollers, and means limiting said pivotal movement.

5. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of longitudinally spaced and transversely aligned pivotal supports, lever arms carried by said supports, a roller mounted between the upper end portions of each pair of lever arms, resilient tension means each connected at one end to a lever arm and at the other end to a xed portion of the conveyer, said tension elements being under an initial tension in additionto the weight of the roller and arms whereby said roller and arms will normally be urged in a direction to resist the weight of a load passing thereover, and means limiting the displacement of said roller and arms due to the initial tension on said elements.

6. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a frame, lever arms pivotally connected to said frame, rollers carried by said arms and movable therewith in substantially vertical planes with respect to said frame, and tension means connected to said arms, said tension means being under an initial tension in addition to the weight of the rollers and arms whereby said rollers and arms will normally be urged in a direction to resist the weight of a load passing over said rollers.

7. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, lever arms pivotally connected to the frame, rollers carried by said arms and movable therewith, said arms and rollers being movable in substantially Vertical planes with respect to said conveyer frame. tension means connectedA between said frame and arms, and means in addition to the weight of the rollers and arms for varying the initial force of said tension means.

LEE E. SEKULSKI. 

